Overhead conveyer system



D1 ma El .I9 S1 n.4. .DHT REW ELVIS mnu P OAOUH N DnmMw T LL Hm RI lul nl l Jl RICHARD GEHLER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

OVERHEAD CONVEYER SYSTEM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

' Patented J an. 6, 1920.

Application led September 4, 1919. Serial No. 321,529.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD GEHLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Overhead Conveyer System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvementsin overhead conveyer systems, and more particularly to a switch mechanism for such systems, and consists in a novelconstruction hereinafter described.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved form of switch mechanism Afor overhead conveyer systems, which may be readily operated, and which is designed to constitute a positive switch, from a straight main rail to a side rail, together with a safety stop for preventing the derailment of the conveyer element.

Additional features of the construction will be apparent without specific mention, from the following detail invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the switch mechanism embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through/the switch mechanism.

The stationary overhead rail system includes main straight rails 1, the rails 1 being supported in alinement with a cut-out or interval between the rails 1 at the switch. The rail system also includes a side rail 2, which terminates at a distance from the main rail to provide a space or interval for the side rail section of the switch mechanism.

The switch mechanism includes broadly a main rail section and a curved rail section with mechanical means for operating the two sections alternately to bring them into position with the stationary rail sections of the system.

The switch construction includes a frame composed of a back plate 3, strap members 4, constituting the ends of the frame, and front straps 5, for supporting the front of the frame. A shaft 6 is journaled in the upper end members of the frame, and car ries a pair of gear wheels 7. The wheels 7 are outside of the frame, and near the ends of the shaft 6. ln vertical alinement with the shaft 6, and journaled in the lower members of the frame is a second shaft 8, running parallel with the shaft 6. The shaft 8 carries in the same relative position as the gearl wheels 7, gear wheels 9, which mesh with the wheels 7. The shaft 8 has. rigidly attached thereto the straight rail section 10 of the switch. This section 10 is supported by arms 11, the varms 11 being rigidly connected with and near the side members thereof. The curved rail section of the switch 13 is formed in connection with a block 14, having a groove 15, therein adjacent to the rail section l13. The whole curved rail section of the switch is supported by angular arms 16, which arms are rigidly at their upper and inner endwith the shaft 6. Since the gears 7 and 9 are matched in pairs to mesh with each other, when power is applied,.for instance as illustrated, to the shaft 6 by a hand lever 17, and the shaft is thereby rotated, the straight railand curved rail section of the switch will be moved to change their relative positions. That is to say, the section13 will be raised out of position in contact with the side rail section, and the sections 10 will be brought into alinement with the'main rail sections, and vice versa. It is obvious that instead of` operating the switch manually by the lever 17, any suitable form of power device may be used, such as an electric motor with power connections or other form of engine or motor.

Tnthe construction of the stationary rail system, the main and side rails may be placed in any desired relative adjustment and the switch sections formed to complete the rail system. At the point of contact between the ends of the stationary rail and the switch sections, the connection between the rails may be improved by arranging the contacting surface of the rail in stepped formation as illustrated at 18, in Fig. 2.

As the switch is shown in the drawing, the adjustment is such that the conveyer device will be switched from the main rail to the side rail. When the position of the switch is reversed, the sections of the main rail obviously will be brought in position so that the conveyer device will pass over the switch mechanism from one section of the main rail to the other.

When the switch section from the side rail is up and out of position it is necessary, in order to insure against the re-railment of the conveyer device supported by the side rail, to provide some form of stop device. This stop device as ilustrated, includes a support 19, upon which is journaled a gear the shaft 8 within the frame,

20, which meshes with one of the gears 7.' A stop member in the form of a bar 2l having a projection 22 at its lower end and being provided with a rack 23 on its inner face is so arranged that it will move downwardly when the switch mechanism is operated to raise the side rail switch section, so that the projection 22 will be brought into Contact with the side rail near the end thereof since this stop device isgeared to operate with the switch assembly, it will be'raised upwardly when the side rail switch section is dropped into position. p

I am aware that the invention may be modified in certain particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. I do not limit myself therefore to the exact construction shown and described, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: c

l. In an overhead conveyer system, a stationary rail, a removable rail section, movable into and out of coperative relationship with the stationary rail, a side rail, a curved rail section movable into and out of coperative relationship with the stationary rail and the side rail, a pair of shafts supporting the curved rail section and first named rail section, respectively, mechanism for coperatively turning said shafts to place said rail sections selectively-in coperative relationship as aforesaid, and a stop device to prevent de-railment from the side rail when the curved rail section is out of coperative relationship with the side rail;

2. In an overhead conveyer system, amain rail, a side railv arranged at an angle relative t0 the main rail, a shaft, arms supported by said shaft, a curved rail section supported by said arms movable to position to form a switch connection between the main yrail and the side rail, a second shaft yarranged parallel to said first named shaft and in vertical alinement therewith, a movable main rail section, arms connected with said second named shaft and supporting said main rail section, means for operating said shafts concurrently to place said curved rail section and said main rail section alternately in position to connect said rails.

3. In an overhead conveyer system, a main stationary rail, a side stationary` rail supported at an angle relative to the main rail, a frame, a shaft journaled in the frame, angular arms in connection with said shaft, a rail section supported by said arms, a second shaft journaled in said frame arranged parallel with said first named shaft, a main rail section, arms secured to said rail section, said arms being connected with said second named shaft, land gear connections between said shafts operable effectively by rotation of one of said shafts to rotate the other in the opposite direction approximately one half turn, whereby the relative positions of the' main and curved sections of the switch are changed to complete the stationary rail system as desired and said sections held in position to which they are moved.

4L. In an overhead conveyer system, a main rail section, a side stationary rail supported at an angle relative to the main rail, a rectangular frame having parallel end members arranged one above the other, a shaft journaled in one pair of said end members, a curved rail section having arms connected with said shaft, a second shaft journaled in the other pair of said end members, a

straight rail section having arms connecting the same with said second named shaft, and means for revolving said shaft a half turn to change the relative positions of said rail sections.

RICHARD OEHLERL 

